Pinellas Begins Construction on Duke Energy Trail

Completion of this leg will bring Pinellas closer to having a 70-mile trail that loops around the county.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Citizens and community partners joined Pinellas County elected officials and representatives from Duke Energy last week (June 21) to break ground on a new 1.2-mile segment of the Duke Energy Trail that will connect to the trail’s existing U.S. 19 pedestrian overpass in Clearwater.

The groundbreaking event also included members of the Clearwater City Council, the volunteer group Pinellas Trails, Inc. and other local organizations.

The new segment of the trail will run from Sunset Point Road to the trail overpass near Enterprise Road and U.S. 19. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2017. The project is funded by the Penny for Pinellas 1-percent sales tax.

“With the construction of a 1.2-mile segment down to Sunset Point Road, this will bring us closer to completing the 70-mile loop throughout Pinellas County,” Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Williams Seel said.

When fully constructed, the Duke Energy Trail will take pedestrians and bicyclists along 20 miles of power line corridors that will eventually link with a 70-mile loop around the county, helping to complete the Pinellas Trail Loop.

The northern end of the Duke Energy Trail will connect with the East Lake/Tarpon Springs section of the Pinellas Trail and the southern terminus will connect to the planned Weedon Island Trail. Future segments of the loop will be constructed as funding becomes available.

The next planned section of the Duke Energy Trail will run from Sunset Point Road to State Road 590 in Clearwater.